Picker stick hold-down device



pril l0, i951 H. HOEBER 2,548,432

PICKER STICK HOLD-DOWN DEVICE Filed Jan. 2e, 1947 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 10, 1951 PICKER STICK HOLD-DOWN DEVICE Harold Hoeber, deceased, late of South Dartmouth, Mass., by Barbara 0. W. Hoeber and William T. Read, executors, Dartmouth, Mass., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Hoosac Mills Corporation, Boston, Mass., a, corporation of `Massachusetts Application January 28, 1947, Serial No. 724,724

Claims. l

This device relates to a loom and more particularly to a means for holding the picker stick down so that the picker will properly engage the shuttle to drive it across the loom and be properly engaged by the shuttle as it enters the box.

In the operation of a loom the picker stick is thrown by cam motion to drive the shuttle out of the box and across the loom. A heel strap spring at the lower end of the picker stick returns the stick to an intermediate position in its stroke, such intermediate position being determined by the setting of the `check strap of the loom. At this intermediate position near the outer end of the lay, the picker stick positioned by the check strap awaits the return oi the shuttle from the opposite side of the loom. After the shuttle is thrown from the opposite side `of the loom it passes through the shed of the warp and enters the original shuttle box from which it was rst thrown out. In the usual conventional loom with a back binder, the shuttle is subject to a checking action Vby the back binder and the back binder spring, from the moment it comes into contact with the back binder. As it further enters the shuttle box the spur of the shuttle will come into contact with the picker mounted on the vpicker stick the spur of the shuttle entering the hole in the picker provided for its reception. From that time until the shuttle is completely home in the shuttle box the kinetic energy in the shuttle is being absorbed by the back binder and back binder spring by the picker stick and check strap through the irictional resistance offered the movement of the picker stick by the check strap and by any other checking devices used on the loom. In the case of the picker stick 'the shuttle, having found it at rest and positioned by the check strap, imparts movement to the picker stick toward the outer end of the box. When the shuttle is completely home in the box the picker stick is at the extreme limit of itsl outward traveli By that time the picker stick has absorbed kinetic energy from the incoming shuttle and this energy the stick itself tries to dissipate. Being at the end of its outward stroke any further movement in that direction is prevented by the lay end. Being at its lower end mounted on a parallel shoe which in turn is mounted on a parallel rigidly fastened to the rocker shaft the picker stick cannot move downwardly. The shuttle itself resists any inward movement oi the stick. Only the heel strap spring and friction and the force of gravity working on the picker stick assembly prevent the picker stick from rising. The picker stick has absorbed enough kinetic energy from the shuttle to overcome these deterrent forces of gravity and friction and at that point the picker stick does rise. This can"be seen very readily in the operation of a slow speed loom with no visual aid and in the operation of a high speed loom it can be observed by stroboscopic examination.

When the picker stick rises it carries with it the picker and it in turn carries the shuttle upwardly because the spur of the shuttle is imbedded in the hole in the picker provided for its reception. In the conventional loom the shuttle box is usually provided with a box top to limit the upward motion of the shuttle. When the picker stick rises and with it the picker and the shuttle, movement of the shuttle usually takes `place until the Ashuttle comes in contact with the box top. There the shuttle isv stopped Vand any further upward motion of the picker stick and picker can only be accomplished through a yielding of the bottom portion of the picker. The resistance of the picker to thus yielding nally checks the -upward motion of the stick. This action produces wear on the picker, the shuttle, the back binder and the box top.

`In the case oi a loom being operated with a tight box the picker stick and picker and the shuttle may not return to a normal position with the shuttle flatly seated on the lay end by the time the :next pick occurs.

Similarly on picking out of the box, particularly if the loom isk operated with a tight box, when the lug strap iirst exerts its inward pressure on the stick, the tight fit of the shuttle in the shuttle box resists the inward motion of the stick. The construction `oi the stick as above explained prevents its moving downward and it may take an upward motion carrying with it the picker and the shuttle before moving inward, thus starting the shuttle on'its night in a nose down tail up position detrimental to a at night through the warp shed.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an arrangement so that the picker stick cannot lift upwardly or endwise as a result of its motion toward the outer end of the lay.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rigid means' to accomplish this result so that resilient action may be done away with.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple means such for instance as a lip extending from the back wall of the shuttle box over the picker stick so that in rising the stick will engage the lip and will be prevented from motion upwardly.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a fragmental'portion of a loom illustrating the shuttle box with my invention provided thereon;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the shuttle box showing the picker stick hold down device in position;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the shuttle box illustrating a modified mounting for the hold down device;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental View of `the upper end of the hold down device similar to that shown in Fig. 1 illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In proceeding with this invention a lip or shelf is mounted forwardly from the back wall of the shuttle boxto extend over the picker stick so that if the picker stick attempts to move endways upwardly it will engage this lip and be prevented from rising. v

With reference to the drawings I designates the framework of a loom and H the sword for mounting the lay l 2. Rock shaft i3 has a member I4 mounted thereon upon which the parallel motion member I5 rocks and mounts the picker stick I6. Spring i7 is held by bracket I8 with a strap i9 extending to a clamp 2B on the picker stick I6 so as to throw the picker stick outwardly after it has been forced inwardly by the lug strap 2| operated by the cam motion 22 from shaft 23. Check strap 26 is mounted on bracket 25 and surrounds the picker stick. A shuttle box designated generally 27 has a back wall 28 (see Fig. 2) and a front wall 29. The picker stick IE is received through the Slot in this shuttle box and has a picker 30 mounted on its upper end. The Stick will engage the cushioning device 3l at the end of the box.

In order to prevent the picker stick from rising or moving endways from the parallel motion, a lip or shelf 34 is provided which is secured to the back wall 28 by a bolt 35 and which lip extends from the back wall toward the front wall 29 and extends sufficiently to be located above the picker stick when the picker stick is in the forward position. This lip 34 is inclined upwardly toward the middle of the loom to conform to the arc of swing of the picker stick the pivotal point of which is inwardly from the location of the picker stick end, when at the outer end of the box. Thus, when the picker stick hits its cushion 3l at the outer'end of the box and it is beneath the top lip or guard device 34 any tendency for this stick to rise will be resisted by the plate 34 and it will be held in position.

This lip 34 is rigid and made of strong enough stock so that it will not yield as it is engaged by the picker stick or the picker on the upper end of the stick whichever may be higher.

In the showing in Fig. 3, the lip or shelf 34 is secured to a bracket 40 by means of cap screws 4|. This bracket is slotted as at 42 and is held by cap screw 43 to the front of the lay and thus enables the hold down plate 34 by this mounting to be adjusted vertically that the proper height for the hold down device may be provided.

In Fig. 4, the hold down plate 34 is wrapped with leather 45 which is held in place by screws 46 so that the upper end of the picker stick or picker 38 may engage this somewhat cushioned wrapping on the hold down plate 34.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box with opposite side walls, a picker stick for driving the shuttle out of said box and a rigid lip of sheet material carried by one of said walls only and extending above the end of the picker stick to limit its upward movement.

2. In a loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shuttle box is provided with a back wall and said lip extends forwardly from said back wall only.

3. In a loom as set forth in claim l wherein said shuttle box is provided with a back wall and said metal lip extends forwardly from said back wall and inclined upwardly toward the middle of the loom above the normal path of travel of the picker stick.

4. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box with opposite side walls, a picker stick for driving the shuttle out of said box, an adjustable bracket on said box and a metal lip carried by the bracket and extending over the end of the picker stick to limit its upward movement.

5. In a loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein a non-metallic cushioning material covers the underside of the lip.

BARBARA O. W. HOEBER. WILLIAM T. READ. Executors of the Estate of Harold Hueber, De-

ceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

